Come Holy Spirit
Solemnity of Pentecost
This Sunday, the Catholic Church throughout the world will bring to a close the Easter season of 2025. We do so with the celebration of Pentecost-the indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon and within the Apostles and those gathered in the upper room. For those who are reading the bulletin online before Sunday, please remember to wear something RED to church this weekend. Red is the official color of the Solemnity.
Two years ago, the Christian Women Society purchased the beautiful Holy Spirit wood carving from Italy for our parish Church. It hangs off the rafter in the Sanctuary. When we see the carving of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, it is a reminder to invoke the Holy Spirit to stir into flame the faith in Jesus Christ that we received in the Sacrament of Baptism. A favorite prayer to the Holy Spirit comes from St. Augustine. May we all pray this prayer often.
Come Holy Spirit
Breathe in me,
O Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me,
O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart,
O Holy Spirit,
That I love, but what is holy.
Strengthen me,
O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then,
O Holy Spirit,
That I always may be holy.
In this month of June, we prepare to celebrate the beautiful Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 27 at the 8:00 a.m. Mass. This week, we have some highlighted Feast days:
Monday, June 9: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
Wednesday, June 11: St. Barnabas the Apostle
Friday, June 13: St. Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church.
Firecracker Backer
As a Firecracker Backer, you may choose to donate at any of the following levels:
Diamond $1,000
Platinum $500
Gold $250
Silver $150
Bronze $100
Copper $50
Please make checks payable to St. John the Evangelist and drop them off or mail them to the Parish Office. Thank you so much for your many donations for our Parish Festival Fireworks.
Booth Sponsor
St. John the Evangelist invites you to support our beloved festival by becoming an official sponsor of a festival booth or game for your business or organization, or you can even honor a loved one with a sponsorship this year. St. John’s is an extremely popular festival with thousands of attendees, providing substantial traffic for your sponsorship. The cost is $175, which includes a professionally-produced custom sign as well as inclusion in daily announcements on the PA system throughout the three-day festival weekend. Please contact Dave Radke at (414) 529-2356 to become a sponsor, or if you are interested in learning more about the opportunity to promote your business and help St. John’s thrive for years to come.
Raffle and Various Booth Items Needed
We need items for various festival booths. Please bring items to the parish office.
- Mystery Package Booth: Items should be NEW and worth at least 50 cents for men, women, and children.
- Raffle Booth: Larger items such as electronics, appliances, lawn equipment, or any larger items you think someone would be eager to buy a chance to win.
- Grocery Booth: A wide variety of non-perishable food items is needed.
- Gentlemen’s Chest: We need new and unopened bottles of wine, whiskey, vodka, gin, and after-dinner cordials.
Our first graders were happy to give their animal presentations. The students researched an animal of their choice, developed visual aids for a presentation, and presented their projects. The students dressed as their animals and were excited to share animal information from their notecards. Students set up their presentations in the school cafeteria. Parents of our first graders, other guests, and our students in grades K4-8 provided an audience for our presenters. A huge shout-out to Mrs. Prideaux, our first-grade teacher, for providing this experience for our students. Way to go, first graders!
"Go Out and Set Your Soul on Fire for God!"
This summer, embark on a spiritual journey and get to know the heart of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, who famously introduced himself to the world as “a son of St. Augustine” on the day of his papal election. Join us for a captivating three-session discussion of Desire and Unity: Augustinian Spirituality for Today by Father Emmanuel-Marie Le Fébure du Bus. We will gather on three select Fridays this summer, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: June 27, August 1, and August 29.
This powerful yet accessible book delves into the profound teachings of St. Augustine, an intellectual giant and spiritual master whose vigorous and expansive view of the human heart still speaks to Christians today. Father Emmanuel-Marie guides readers through Augustinian spirituality, unpacking key points such as happiness, love, prayer, Christ, the Church, community, and the kingdom of God. Each chapter includes prompts for meditation, helping you to discover St. Augustine and draw from “the bottomless wells of God’s love.” As author Brant Pitre notes, Desire and Unity is “a beautiful and accessible introduction to the spirituality of Augustine” that invites you to “know Augustine the mystic.”
By participating in this book study, you will get to know not only the mind of St. Augustine but also the heart of our new Holy Father. You will also learn to pray with one of the greatest Fathers and Doctors of the Church, who still powerfully inspires theologians and church leaders the world over.
PLEASE NOTE: Registration is required. So, please register soon to receive your course syllabus and allow ample time to complete the first reading before our initial session. To register, simply join the ‘Desire and Unity’ Flocknote or contact John Paul Shimek, Director of Lifelong Faith Formation, at jpshimek@stjohns-grfd.org or (414) 321-8922.
To keep up to date, join our SJE Adult Formation Flocknote or follow us on Facebook.
The Holy Name Society of St. John the Evangelist will gather for Corporate Communion at 8:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, June 8. The Rosary will be recited at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast will follow in the Church Hall. All parish men (and their sons) are invited to join the Holy Name Society or attend the breakfast to learn more.
Our next meeting is Friday, June 13, 2025, 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Bring your new creations of Prayer Pockets, Shawls, Lap Blankets, Twiddle Muffs, and Baptismal Gifts. Thank you for your monetary and new yarn donations, dropped off at the Parish Office, to help us in this mission!
The meeting location is near St. John's in the Highland Ridge Complex, Hill Crest Building, Community Room, 3993 S. Prairie Hill Lane. It is easy to access and has no stairs.
If you enjoy knitting and crocheting, we would love for you to join us and learn more about this ministry. For more information, contact Diane Oakland at 414-617-0721 or dianeoak@gmail.com.
The Mother's Day Rose sale was a great success. The Respect Life Committee sold 400 Roses, not a single rose was left, and, as a result, a check for $1,563 was sent to Pro-life Wisconsin to be distributed among their many pro-life projects. We thank all of you who purchased our roses; your contribution for the unborn will make a huge impact in spreading the Gospel of Life here in our state. God bless you all.
“Popcorn for Pops” will return next weekend for Father’s Day. It was very popular last year. Once again, Pro-Life Wisconsin is supplying three-ounce bags of cheddar cheese and caramel corn from Badger Popcorn. The cost is $3 per bag or two for $5. The Respect Life Committee will be selling “Popcorn for Pops” at all Masses on June 14/15.
Sunday, June 8, 2025 | Solemnity of Pentecost | John 20:19-23
Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Lord appears to his disciples and greets them in the evening after his Resurrection, saying, “Peace be with you.”
According to the Gospel accounts, the risen Jesus typically did two things: He showed his wounds and pronounced a word of peace. Jesus's wounds are a continual and salutary reminder of our sin. The Author of life appeared in our midst, and we killed him, which gives the lie to any attempt at self-justification or exculpation.
But the risen Lord never leaves us in guilt; instead, he speaks the word “Shalom,” peace. This is the peace that the world cannot give, for it is the Shalom that comes from the heart of God.
In his Letter to the Romans, Paul said, “I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” How does Paul know this? He knows it because we killed God, and God returned in forgiving love. He knows it because the enemies of Israel have been defeated.
-Bishop Robert Barron
St. John’s is fortunate to have 24-hour Perpetual Adoration. Please take advantage of this beautiful opportunity to stay close to God.
Please read carefully, as many of our open hours have changed. We are currently in need of one (or ideally two) people for the following:
Sundays, Midnight to 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Mondays, 3:00 to 4:00 a.m.
Thursdays, Midnight to 1:00 a.m.
Call Mary-Eileen Swart at 414-687-3512 if you are interested.
Live-streaming: Mass and Adoration
We are live-streaming daily and Sunday Masses as well as Adoration for those who are unable to attend:
Daily Masses:
Monday thru Saturday 8:00 am
Weekend Masses:
Saturday at 4:30 pm
Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30 am
If you miss the Livestream, you can watch the upload of each Mass on our YouTube channel.
Scrip is available at all weekend Masses or during regular business hours at the parish office.
Download the RaiseRight app to reload cards, purchase ecards, or purchase physical cards. Contact the Parish Office or School Office for the enrollment code.